F15 Steering

[flexfusion]

Coming from an E70 I'm having a very difficult time adjusting to the way this thing steers. Can't believe the BMW team that over sees the steering signed on this. Love the car many great refinements over the E70 but the steering is of concern to me......absolutely no road fee. It reminds me of driving a car in a video game. With on 2500 miles can't afford to trade, but guess I'll have to suck it up and drive it. Is there anything one can do to improve it other than trade?

[samguan]

http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1312732

Check out the thread I just created.

Same complaints, reminds of those Logitech computer steering wheels. Bad enough for me to consider trade in but it's just not feasible at this point.

[JustAnotherGuy]

I suppose it's good for those of us who haven't come from the previous gen X5 as I don't have any problems with how mine drives. It's a luxo-barge that cradles me from point a-b.

[Kzang]

Coming from an E60 and E70 I've also been concerned about the light steering and lack of road feedback. However, after driving my F15 Msport 3 months or so, I've seemed to have adjusted to the F15 steering in a positive way.

Maybe it has something to do with the wide tires? Or the M suspensions? But my steering is very precise and accurate.

I really didn't like the overly heavy steering from the E70 especially in parking lots. But during higher speeds the steering was very good.

[IvanLZ]

Coming from a Q5, i don't have any problem with it. The light feel is very convenient when parking and at higher speeds it doesn't feel heavy but just right.

[F15GorDe]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I suppose it's good for those of us who haven't come from the previous gen X5 as I don't have any problems with how mine drives. It's a luxo-barge that cradles me from point a-b.

+1^^^^
Our F15 is just one in a fleet of 4. Difference between the E38 &39 are very different than the F15 but you get used to it.
Kzang makes some good points also. Drive by wire, shift by wire, throttle by wire. Tactile touch as pertains to "seat of the pants" driving the way those of us up in our years remember has been dead for a long time now, unless you still have your '66 VW beetle or a '58 F-150.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by flexfusion

Is there anything one can do to improve it other than trade?

No.....

But, trade to what?

Almost everything now has zero-road feel electric PAS, so there isn't much difference between them....especially in the X5 class of vehicle.

[ano0oj]

Originally Posted by Kzang

Coming from an E60 and E70 I've also been concerned about the light steering and lack of road feedback. However, after driving my F15 Msport 3 months or so, I've seemed to have adjusted to the F15 steering in a positive way.

Maybe it has something to do with the wide tires? Or the M suspensions? But my steering is very precise and accurate.

I really didn't like the overly heavy steering from the E70 especially in parking lots. But during higher speeds the steering was very good.

agreed! Had a E70 4.8is, loved the steering back then. With the F15, I didn't like the rather easy steering at low speeds, but just like you ended up adjusting and liking it.

However, I do hope they stiffen it up just a LITTLE in the next gen.

[pragueX5]

fully agree and signed under all this as well
the steering is super soft and zero feedback. it fact feels wobbly when need to drive in super tiny narrow lane construction zone on higway....

overall the F15 is great, but it gave up way too much of its BMW pedigree and turned to soccer mom school car too much.

[Thumbs]

Years ago a friend let me drive his A4(?). During the drive I mentioned how nice the steering weight was in it compared to so many "over-boosted" cars of the day. He said it was adjustable- and then went into a menu on the dash and showed me the range from 1-10 (or something). So- these electric racks SHOULD be user adjustable if the manufacturers would just give us the access.

Does anyone know if the dealership can code it?

[double_j]

Nothing you can do to change it, therefore embrace it. The X5 is a luxo-barge, pure and simple. Don't try to drive it too aggressively and just enjoy the comfortable ride.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by double_j

Nothing you can do to change it, therefore embrace it. The X5 is a luxo-barge, pure and simple. Don't try to drive it too aggressively and just enjoy the comfortable ride.

I disagree here.. but to each their own.

The X5 with the right options can do things most cars can't..

For instance a X6M lapped the Nurburgring with the same time as the previous gen BMW M3 (E92). IMO that is pretty impressive for a "luxo-barge" that "should" not be driven aggressively.

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...-ar166072.html

[IvanLZ]

Originally Posted by Kzang

I disagree here.. but to each their own.

The X5 with the right options can do things most cars can't..

For instance a X6M lapped the Nurburgring with the same time as the previous gen BMW M3 (E92). IMO that is pretty impressive for a "luxo-barge" that "should" not be driven aggressively.

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...-ar166072.html

I agree. Not many SUV or even sedans out there can compete with the X5/X6 except for brands like Porsche. Heavy but still powerful.

[1230vani]

I can safely confirm 2017 model steering (msport, adaptive m suspension, 20", no dhp) sucks in sport mode compared to previous year model with Active Steering. I will get used to it.

[P1]

Originally Posted by double_j

Nothing you can do to change it, therefore embrace it. The X5 is a luxo-barge, pure and simple. Don't try to drive it too aggressively and just enjoy the comfortable ride.

Agree. I bought mine so my wife can take my son to school. And it does thar job perfectly. The steering is beyond boring compared to my M Sport E70 which was solid like a tank. The F15 is a nimble fairy, but my wife wouldn't trade it for the world and that's all that matters.

[double_j]

Originally Posted by Kzang

I disagree here.. but to each their own.

The X5 with the right options can do things most cars can't..

For instance a X6M lapped the Nurburgring with the same time as the previous gen BMW M3 (E92). IMO that is pretty impressive for a "luxo-barge" that "should" not be driven aggressively.

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...-ar166072.html

I don't disagree but we're not discussing the M models with their upgraded suspension bits and (likely) different steering tune.

I can't really comment to the M driving characteristics having never driven one but I can say with complete certainty that base X5s (non-M models) are not very sporty in their general driving characteristics. It's a heavy car with vague steering that's been tuned for cruising, not carving.

I know it all comes down to opinion but I would argue that anybody who thinks otherwise may not have a complete frame of reference as to what 'sporty' should feel like.

This doesn't mean that I don't love my X5 - it's absolutely comfortable and the V8 is a hoot when passing or merging onto highways. That said, it's never going to be my first choice when I'm in the mood to take a spirited drive.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by double_j

I don't disagree but we're not discussing the M models with their upgraded suspension bits and (likely) different steering tune.

I can't really comment to the M driving characteristics having never driven one but I can say with complete certainty that base X5s (non-M models) are not very sporty in their general driving characteristics. It's a heavy car with vague steering that's been tuned for cruising, not carving.

I know it all comes down to opinion but I would argue that anybody who thinks otherwise may not have a complete frame of reference as to what 'sporty' should feel like.

This doesn't mean that I don't love my X5 - it's absolutely comfortable and the V8 is a hoot when passing or merging onto highways. That said, it's never going to be my first choice when I'm in the mood to take a spirited drive.

I agree with you that the base X5 with no suspension upgrades is a cruiser... Hence my comment "The X5 with the right options".

[P1]

Originally Posted by Kzang

I agree with you that the base X5 with no suspension upgrades is a cruiser... Hence my comment "The X5 with the right options".

Correction: an X5 with either base or M suspension is a cruiser. We have both in the family, so I have experience. Only once you get DHP (like in my E70), you're going to be able to throw it around a bit more.

I'm hoping that once I fit my 21" wheels with Michelin PSS tires, it'll make the drive a bit sportier.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by P1et

Correction: an X5 with either base or M suspension is a cruiser. We have both in the family, so I have experience. Only once you get DHP (like in my E70), you're going to be able to throw it around a bit more.

I'm hoping that once I fit my 21" wheels with Michelin PSS tires, it'll make the drive a bit sportier.

I've had a 2010 535i with sports package ( which included sports suspension with ARS ) and after that I had a standard suspension E70 35i for 3 years...
I'm not here to argue with you about your comment about the Adaptive M suspension but based upon my previous BMW experiences, I feel that my current F15 with Adapative M handles just as good as my 535i with sports package if not better.